2010.03.12: Mother says Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey's murder happened within days of her reporting a co-teacher, who was not a Peace Corps volunteer, was sexually abusing some of the female students at the school where they worked

Mother says Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey's murder happened within days of her reporting a co-teacher, who was not a Peace Corps volunteer, was sexually abusing some of the female students at the school where they worked

Lois Puzey explained her daughter discovered that a co-teacher, who was not a Peace Corps volunteer, was sexually abusing some of the female students at the school where they worked. "Co-teachers and other students were upset and they came to Kate to try to get some help, to contact someone and try to get him out of the school," she said. "She tried to do that anonymously and unfortunately the anonymity was broken." Puzey said her daughter's murder happened within days of her reporting the other teacher. Three people, including the suspect and his brother, were arrested a short time later. They have remained in jail since. "We feel like she was a hero and we wanted people to know that," Puzey said. "She was an amazingly courageous and compassionate person who stood up for those that couldn't protect themselves." The case was originally set for trial in Benin last fall, but has been postponed until November. Puzey said the Peace Corps was initially helpful and supportive. Eventually, she and her family weren't getting the answers they needed. She, along with members of a small advocacy group formed on her daughter's behalf, went to Washington, D.C. a couple of weeks ago to get those answers from Peace Corps officials. "That was a very positive and productive meeting in the end," she said. "We also spoke to congressmen and senators that we felt could help us find out what we needed."

Puzey said her husband was originally diagnosed about three years ago with throat cancer, but the disease went into remission.

It resurfaced in October in his lungs and is being treated with chemotherapy.

Lois Puzey taught social studies at Little Mill Middle School until January and her husband has worked as a substitute teacher in the school district.

She said they continue to gather information about the events surrounding their daughter's death.

She explained her daughter discovered that a co-teacher, who was not a Peace Corps volunteer, was sexually abusing some of the female students at the school where they worked.

"Co-teachers and other students were upset and they came to Kate to try to get some help, to contact someone and try to get him out of the school," she said. "She tried to do that anonymously and unfortunately the anonymity was broken."

Puzey said her daughter's murder happened within days of her reporting the other teacher.

Three people, including the suspect and his brother, were arrested a short time later. They have remained in jail since.

"We feel like she was a hero and we wanted people to know that," Puzey said. "She was an amazingly courageous and compassionate person who stood up for those that couldn't protect themselves."

The case was originally set for trial in Benin last fall, but has been postponed until November.

Puzey said the Peace Corps was initially helpful and supportive. Eventually, she and her family weren't getting the answers they needed.

She, along with members of a small advocacy group formed on her daughter's behalf, went to Washington, D.C. a couple of weeks ago to get those answers from Peace Corps officials.

"That was a very positive and productive meeting in the end," she said. "We also spoke to congressmen and senators that we felt could help us find out what we needed."

She noted that U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson came to her daughter's funeral and has been "very, very supportive and helpful all along."

Kate Puzey graduated in 2006 from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., where she studied sociology and business.

She joined the Peace Corps in July 2007. She was scheduled to return home last summer.

Memo to Incoming Director WilliamsPCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams

Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Forsyth News

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Benin; Safety; Crime; Murder; Congress

PCOL4547350

Add a Message

This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.